Filipino Bishops evoke Christian hope to rise above destruction

November 11, 2013 - As dazed Filipinos painfully pick up the pieces of their life in the wake of the widespread destruction left by Typhoon Haiyan, the country’s bishops have launched a message of Christian hope and encouragement to their countrymen to rise above the occasion. “No typhoon or flood will ever defeat the "strength" of the Filipinos , the cataclysm that has " devastated " the center of the country "may even be the worst the world has ever seen", but faith in God is "even stronger", said a message by Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). From 11 to 19 November a novena of prayer will be held across the country for the victims of the typhoon and an earthquake that hit the same areas in recent weeks. Every Mass and prayer will be offered for the dead and comfort for their families. Finally, all parishes are invited to promote fundraising for emergency response and reconstruction. The head of the Philippines Red Cross described the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan as "absolute pandemonium" that brought the nations to its knees. (Source: AsiaNews)